To All The Boys' original John Ambrose actor reacts to being replaced by Jordan Fisher
12 February 2020, 15:42
Jordan Burtchett originally played John Ambrose McClaren in To All The Boys I've Loved Before.
To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You dropped on Netflix today (12 Feb) and, yes, we're already obsessed. Your favourite couple Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor) and Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) have returned, but this time round we'll be seeing a lot more of John Ambrose McClaren.
Now, if you watched the first movie – To All The Boys I've Loved Before – in 2018, you'll remember that John Ambrose shows up at Lara Jean's doorstep holding flowers and one of her letters. But you'll notice that he looks very different in the sequel. In fact, he's a whole new person.
READ MORE: You can now watch To All the Boys I've Loved Before without a Netflix account
Jordan Burtchett was the original John Ambrose, before he was replaced by another Jordan – Jordan Fisher – in March 2019. While Netflix didn't reveal the reason behind the recast decision, To All the Boys producer Matt Kaplan told Entertainment Tonight that they underwent a lot of "pressure" finding his replacement.
He said: "We auditioned thousands and thousands of people, and when Jordan came on screen, I think, unanimously, Ace [Entertainment] and Netflix felt like this was John Ambrose. We were fortunate to have someone who has so much pure likability in him, and I think audiences are going to freak out when they see what he's been able to bring to the screen."
Shortly after the news broke, Jordan Burtchett posted a YouTube video about his recasting. However, he deleted the video and explained why in a lengthy Instagram post, which read: "Hey Fam, I removed my video because its sole intention was to thank you, my friends and fans, for your incredible support over this past year. Because you matter to me, and you deserved my honesty.
Unfortunately, some are using it as a way to be hurtful towards others and I will not be a part of that. Hate is the opposite response to love.
"But I am here to express just how much I appreciate you. So thank you for the support and love you show me. For your humour, for your creativity and for the incredible stories you bring to this world. You have grown to be special to me this past year and a half and for that I give thanks and glory to God. You are a gift. You have my heart fam and I’m excited for where the future adventures will lead us. Truly, Jordan."
I'M BACK!!! | reasons for the break, auditions, recast, headshots
Although Jordan deleted his first video, months later in May 2019, he addressed his recasting again in a YouTube vlog.
"I'm sorry that I haven't been around on the vlogs super recently, I was just kinda trying to get my footing a bit because this past month and a half has been kind of hard for me for multiple reasons," he explained. "One that you probably know of is that I got replaced in To All the Boys which was kind of…lame. And then I posted a video saying thank you to you guys and that went in a different direction."
READ MORE: To All The Boys 2 soundtrack: Every song featured in P.S. I Still Love You
However, he finished the video on a positive note, adding: "From the recast for to all the boys, I know a lot of people were disappointed […] it's too bad, but great things will happen to them and great things will happen to me."
